News & Updates

I loved what Murray Tilles told us last weekend. “Jesus never celebrated Christmas or Easter.” That sentiment brought a slight smile to many of our faces. The question though is this: Why do we? Why do we celebrate Christmas and Easter? The best answer is to remember. The ancient Passover feast was a creative, God-ordained way to story-tell, ask questions, and remember God’s redemption. Interestingly, as we try to remember, our culture insulates our souls with lights, candy, reindeer, and…

In an article called “Don’t Waste a Crisis” for the Leadership Journal,1 John Ortberg provides the following illustration: “Imagine you’re handed a script of your newborn child’s entire life. Better yet, you’re given an eraser and five minutes to edit out whatever you want. You read that she will have a learning disability in grade school. Reading, which comes easily for some kids, will be laborious for her. In high school, she will make a great circle of friends, then…

I like reading the words of Paul in the New Testament. He’s challenging. His theology is thick and meaty. His letter to the Romans is a jewel to be treasured. In fact, many scholars believe if you can master the book of Romans, you can own the theology in the entire New Testament. Paul was a scholar’s scholar. He was a cultural icon. Paul had status, money, and the admiration of many. He had obtained a high level of achievement…

I trust your Christmas season has been a good one. I know that doesn’t necessarily mean smooth sailing for everyone—but the reality of God with skin can sure be our life’s most motivating and rescuing factor. I know of some struggling marriages. I’m praying for the health of several whose reality is nothing short of desperate. However, Christmas is still good, because Jesus is. His presence through the warm glow of holiday gatherings or the harsh lights of hospitals is…

Last night, Sherry, Michael, and I served at The Table On Delk. This ministry is a grassroots effort helping women in the sex trafficking industry. The crime and the attempted rescue all happen in our backyard on Delk Road and I-75 in Marietta. The plan last night was to go caroling in the motel parking lots and invite women and children to The Table on Delk for a very nice Christmas dinner. As our group of 12 lifted up a…

Someone once said that if you want to get wet, you have to get close to water. If you want to get warm, you have to get close to the fire. If you want to get joy, you have to get close to the source. What’s your source of joy? Over 100 orphans have been sponsored thus far through spendless2givemore. Amazing. If one of those kids were suddenly plopped down into our western celebration of Christmas, what might they guess…

The shtuff was hitting the fan at home. Mom and Dad were going at it with words that would be hard to retract. By all indications, Dad was making his way through a classic mid-life crisis. Mom was frayed at every edge. Their twenty-four year marriage was crumbling, and so was my life. The idealistic 60’s slowly faded into the turbulent 70’s. My older brother was wearing peace sign shirts and sporting long hair. The chaos of our home meshed…

“When’s the big day, Alan?” That familiar little phrase takes flight just prior to the big things in life. Your wedding day. Your big move. The birth of a child. A scheduled colonoscopy. (Sorry.) On Saturday, I’ll be performing the wedding of a great young couple at Cumberland. Zach and Hannah met at Valdosta State, and now their big day is at hand. They’ve been counting the days to this moment. Big days are exciting. They stir the soul. They…

If I told you I was super-excited about Sunday’s message, would you think that was out of the ordinary for me? Would it sound like “blah, blah, blah” from the pastor’s Friday “blah, blah, blah” email? But what if, on Sunday, we were really getting down to the heart of the matter? What matters? The church. Jesus. Good news. “Sounds like blah, blah, blah to me, Pastor.” But most churches these days are stuck. There must be a reason why…